UPDATE
Authorities say a Temple mother may have been suffering from a mental health crisis after she disappeared with her 7-year-old child into a wooded area for nearly 20 hours.
Amanda Guerra, 39, was taken into custody Wednesday on an emergency detention order after she and her daughter were found half a mile from their last known location.
“We are grateful for the positive outcome in this situation and appreciate the support from our community and partner agencies,” Temple Police Chief Shawn Reynolds said about their safe return. “This is an excellent reminder that mental health can impact us all."
The pair were seen on a surveillance camera walking into the woods around 11:23 a.m. Tuesday near a Temple home in the 3100 block of North 12th St.
A massive search found the mom and daughter around 7 a.m. on Wednesday dehydrated with a few scratches in the 3300 block of N. 3rd St.
Temple police says the department took the following steps in the search for the missing mother and daughter:
- A drone was deployed.
- An initial social media post was sent at 6:39 p.m. regarding the missing persons case.
- A media release was later sent at 11:11 p.m., after the initial search was unsuccessful.
- Attempts to track and locate the subjects via a telecommunication device were unsuccessful.
- Both parties were entered into NCIC as missing persons.
- A “Be On The Lookout” alert was sent out to surrounding agencies regarding the subjects.
- A command post was established to coordinate efforts.
- A reverse 911 call was sent out in a ten-block radius.
- Officers began making door-to-door contacts in the area.
- Officers began searching the wooded area on foot, where passable, and an all-terrain vehicle was also utilized to search the area.
- Multiple parks, Mayborn Center and Cultural Activity Center were checked multiple times.
The high temperatures affecting Central Texas made the search even more difficult, police said.
High heat and humidity "reduced the capability of thermal imaging equipment utilized in the search."
Authorities say they are continuing to investigate this case and will provide additional information as it becomes available.
ORIGINAL STORY
Authorities need your help locating a missing mother and daughter last seen walking into a wooded area near a Temple home.
Temple police tell 25 News they believe 7-year-old Kryslee Hernandez is in danger after last being seen Tuesday with her mother, 39-year-old Amanda Guerra.
Kryslee is described as being 3 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 65 pounds. Guerra is 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds.
Both were last seen wearing white T-shirts and shorts.
A homeowner spotted a suspicious vehicle in their driveway around 4:24 p.m. on Tuesday and called authorities, according to a Temple police spokesperson.
Police say the resident gave officers surveillance footage showing the pair walking into the woods around a home in the 3100 block of North 12th St.
The footage shows them walking into the woods hours earlier around 11:23 a.m. Police said the vehicle belonged to the Temple mother.
In addition to being considered a missing person, Guerra is also under investigation as a suspect in the child's abduction, Temple police said.
A spokesperson said the department combed the area with a drone, helicopter, K9 units and numerous officers but turned up nothing as to where the pair went.
If you spot the child or mother or have information on their whereabouts, call Temple police department immediately at 254-298-5500 or the Bell County Crime Stoppers at 254-526-8477.
